How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

The amount depends on your expected rate of return. Using a common guideline of withdrawing 4% annually from investments:

$3,000/month = $36,000/year. At a 4% withdrawal rate, you’d need about $900,000 invested.

If you’re living off dividend or interest income instead of principal withdrawals, and expect a 3% yield, you’d need $1,200,000. At a 5% yield, about $720,000.

Higher expected returns lower the required principal but increase risk. Lower-risk investments usually mean you need more capital upfront.

The right number depends on your investment mix, risk tolerance, taxes, and timeline. I’m not a financial advisor, so it’s worth running your specific numbers with one before deciding.